Formation of cellular close-ended tunneling nanotubes through mechanical deformation

Minhyeok Chang, O. Chul Lee, Gayun Bu, Jaeho Oh, Na Oh Yunn, Sung Ho Ryu, Hyung Bae Kwon, Anatoly B. Kolomeisky, Sang Hee Shim, Junsang Doh, Jae Hyung Jeon, Jong Bong Lee

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    19 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Membrane nanotubes or tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) that connect cells have been recognized as a previously unidentified pathway for intercellular transport between distant cells. However, it is unknown how this delicate structure, which extends over tens of micrometers and remains robust for hours, is formed. Here, we found that a TNT develops from a double filopodial bridge (DFB) created by the physical contact of two filopodia through helical deformation of the DFB. The transition of a DFB to a close-ended TNT is most likely triggered by disruption of the adhesion of two filopodia by mechanical energy accumulated in a twisted DFB when one of the DFB ends is firmly attached through intercellular cadherin-cadherin interactions. These studies pinpoint the mechanistic questions about TNTs and elucidate a formation mechanism.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number3995
    JournalScience Advances
    Volume8
    Issue number13
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2022 Apr

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    ASJC Scopus subject areas

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